Showing posts with label Pa.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pa.. Show all posts

10/31/15

Eating Local - BYOBs are your best bet!


Nothing is better than grabbing your favorite wine and heading out to enjoy a scrumptious meal from any one of these wonderful BYOB restaurants.  The relaxed down home atmosphere, knowledgeable wait staff, and attention to locally grown and sourced food is the norm for these establishments.  No wonder there is a cult-like following to them.  Many chefs bring their family recipes to the table for all to enjoy.   I love the unique settings, train stations, converted homes, little storefronts on otherwise inconspicuous streets.  It is almost like a fantastic game of “hide and go seek” finding these gems.  Once you are there and the cork is popped prepare for a feast like no other, literally, they are one of kind and each has carved out it’s own niche in the foodie community.  The passion spills out onto the plate and your tastebuds travel to cuisine from regions around the globe.  Your dinner becomes a journey and destination all in one.  And the bonus is you didn’t even have to pull out your passport.  Go explore and enjoy these wonderful establishments and join the BYOB cult!

These are a few of my favorite ones…



This list is just scratching the surface…

Trax (Ambler)
Located in the previous Ambler Train Station.
The organic food is locally sourced resulting in a seasonal menu.
  Host to the Ambler Farmers Market and farm-to-table cafĂ©, serving up breakfast during the farmers market.

Bocelli’s (Blue Bell)
Located at the previous Gwynedd Train Station.
Traditional Italian fare, the garlic lures you in and keeps you in a food trance during your meal.  Traditional Italian cuisine is consistently prepared. 

Arugala (Plymouth Meeting)
Sister to Arugala in Huntingdon Valley restaurant-located in
Cold Point Village.  Modern Italian simply prepared dishes influenced from the  Amalfi Coast.  Using grass fed beef, free ranged chicken, hand made pasta.  They specialize in table side fish presentation.

Tratorria Totaro (Conshohocken)
A very friendly family run restaurant specializing in gorgeous and savory Italian dishes. They host a Game Night preparing Venison, Quail, Wild Boar etc… creating a unique dining experience like no other in the area.

TreVi(Glenside)
Italian cuisine – all homemade, a great place to bring the whole family.  The pizza is the BEST in the area and many flock to TreVi’s doors time and time again for the perfect pizza pie.

Zakes (Ft. Washington)
American fusion cuisine, set in a restored roadhouse in the middle of Ft. Washington. Brunch seems to be one of the most popular meals at Zakes but they serve all meals.  Enjoy the beautifully prepared and presented meals – but you must leave room for dessert.  The bakery case is bursting with home made delights. 

Arpeggio (Spring House)
This neighborhood restaurant serves up Pizza and fabulous Mediterranean dishes out of the two wood burning ovens, one of kind in the area.
Creating unique dishes with this cooking method further enhancing the food's flavors.

10/2/15

Nook and Cranny, Nik and Nak, This and That - Antiquing in Glenside, Pa.


SAMPLINGS FROM ANTIQUING IN GLENSIDE, PA




























Today, while strolling along Glenside Ave. and Keswick Village, I found treasures galore…people, places, and pieces.  Glenside Avenue has a wonderful collection of quaint Antique Shops clustered within walking distance which makes it easy to bop into each for a quick fix late in the week or weekend. CJ’s, The Nest, and Not Just Antiques Boutique were the three shops that I had the pleasure of conversing with each owner and getting to know their passions and niche in vintage resale.  They all coexist and promote each others’ strengths along the strip, creating a most pleasant place to peruse.  CJ’s has a utilitarian flare, with kitchen must haves, old fans, and a stunning typewriter, along side tables, chairs, old benches, cupboards etc…each item keeping it’s original integrity. The Nest was a "world of wonder" for me with its’ creative charm spilling over, the Halloween theme strongly influenced many of the clever displays, making me want to scoop up most collected and cultivated items.  Not to mention, I was invited to the owners, twice a year, Carriage House Sale which I wouldn't dream of missing.  The humorous and curious vignettes kept me looking all over this shop!  Mirrors, mirrors, and more mirrors, home decor, hats, jewelry, vintage clothing were abundant at Not Just Antiques Boutique. Everywhere I turned another collection popped out at me, this shop definitely provides. Hopping back in the car, I took a quick ride up to Ludwigs-and all I have to say is “Clocks.” There was an amazing collection of grandfather, mantel, and hanging clocks. Ludwigs is a large space divided into rooms where vast collections of old tools, kitchen wares and linens are neatly separated, making it a breeze for collectors to focus.  Back in the car—realizing that I was getting short on time, I drove down Easton Road to where it intersects with Keswick Avenue and the Keswick Village is nestled.  I chose two stores to explore and I was pleasantly surprised, Keane Vintage combines the old and the new – but really the old outshines the new!  The vast collections of bling - pins, earrings, bracelets were quite impressive and lured me in.  Vintage furs, hats, bags, and shoes have been carefully chosen to meet the standards of this discerning shop owner.  Complete collections flourish in Keane, making it a one stop shop. A couple store fronts down was Rustic and Refined, they had more furniture than smaller items which makes finding a great piece or two easy here. Scattered among the furniture were curios, special finds, and bits and pieces of jewelry, something for everyone. 


I am now out of time and wishing that I had carved out a whole day or  two to research these antiquing avenues.  I plan to return for Part Two with many more stores to visit.  When leaving, I felt common thread woven through each establishment... pride in their community with many proprietors living in Glenside, Pa, as well.  I enjoyed each and everyone of these fascinating collectors and story tellers, I will be returning for more.

See you soon, Glenside!



A couple important things to note – Glenside has a “First Friday” with shops staying open late and presenting special offerings for shoppers the first Friday of every month.  
Keswick Village has their Fall Fest on October 10th-12:00-6:00pm.  
The village of Keswick is currently undergoing a major reinvention with new establishments opening soon.

Check out the shops mentioned on Facebook

The Nest:

CJ’s Vintage:


Keane Vintage:

Rustic and Refine:

More info. on Keswick Village - http://keswickvillage.org/